Current progress in neuroimaging research for the treatment of major depression with electroconvulsive therapy

Table 1 Consistent findings in neuroimaging research on electroconvulsive therapy effects

Neuroimaging technologies	Methods/measures	Relatively consistent findings
fMRI	Functional connectivity strength	Changes in cingulate cortex, frontal cortex, and left angel gyrus
	Functional activity of local brain regions	Changes in cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex
PET	Neurotransmitters	Downregulation of brain serotonin receptors
	Glucose metabolism	Reduction in glucose metabolism after ECT in bilateral anterior and posterior frontal areas
MRS	Gln/Glx, GABA, NAA, Cho, mI, Cr	None
sMRI	Gray matter volumn	Increase in hippocampus and amygdala
DTI	White matter	Alterations in microstructure and pathways

fMRI: Functional magnetic resonance imaging; PET: Positron emission tomography; MRS: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; sMRI: Structural magnetic resonance imaging; DTI: Diffusion tensor imaging; Gln: Glutamine; Glx: Glutamate and Gln; GABA: γ-aminobutyric acid; NAA: N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid; Cho: Choline-containing compounds; mI: Myoinositol; Cr: Creatine; ECT: Electroconvulsive therapy.